Frequently Asked Questions

Once the evaluation has established my qualifications, what comes next?

We will issue the exemption from basic recruit training. This will be issued directly to you as a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) Form 76. You then have one year from the date of the receipt to complete a Proficiency Demonstration course AND pass the State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE).

What happens if I do not provide an acknowledgment of the receipt for the 76 Form?

The exemption from the basic recruit training will not be validated and your application will expire.

What happens if I do not complete the Proficiency Demonstration and pass the SOCE examination within one year after receiving the 76 Form?

You will have to attend a full basic recruit academy in order to become certified in Florida.

How do I "demonstrate proficiency" in the high-liability subject areas?

A Florida state certified instructor must observe you demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities required in the following subject areas:

For Law Enforcement Officers:

Firearms Performance Evaluation

First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers

Defensive Tactics Performance Evaluation

Vehicle Operations Performance Evaluation.

For Correctional Officers and Probation Officers:

Firearms Performance Evaluation

First Aid for Criminal Justice Officers

Defensive Tactics Performance Evaluation.

You mentioned an optional review course for the state written examination (SOCE). Why do you recommend this course?

While the review is optional, we believe most people will find it difficult to do well on the examination without having an opportunity to first review this material. Remember, the examination is the same one given to cadets who have just graduated from a full Curriculum Maintenance System (CMS) police academy using scenario based training techniques over approximately seventeen weeks of full time instruction. While your former training and experience will be helpful in most topics, some of the nomenclature and concepts may be presented in ways that are new to you. This can affect your performance on the written SOCE.

FPSI offers the review course and can provide you with details or answer your questions concerning the training and examination.

How do I arrange to take the State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE)?

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) administers the examination on a regular basis throughout the state of Florida. You can also check the FDLE web site. Remember, you must first have your CJSTC Form 76 (Exemption) and CJSTC Form 76-A (Proficiency Demonstration) in hand to prove your eligibility to take the written examination.

What else do you think I need to know?

Remember that the EOT process only establishes your training and employment qualifications to be a law enforcement or correctional officer. There are other requirements related to criminal history, the character of military discharge, moral character, etc. that must be established by a thorough background investigation before a person can be appointed as an officer. You may learn more about these standards by reading about the Criminal Justice Selection Center process elsewhere on this site.

Does time spent in a police academy on a paid employment basis count toward the EOT employment requirement?

No. Time spent in basic recruit training (police or corrections academy) does not count. The one-year employment requirement must be satisfied using time serving as an officer, not as a cadet.

I accumulated a full year of full-time employment, but it was with two different employers. Does this meet the employment qualification?

Probably - so long as (1) you were classified as a full-time employee by each of those employers and; (2) you accumulated a full year of full-time employment within an eighteen-month period and; (3) no more than two employers can be used to satisfy this EOT requirement.

My law enforcement or corrections employment was as a military police officer. Does this qualify?

Maybe. Your duty assignment during the qualifying period must have been devoted full time to the discipline (law enforcement or corrections) for which you are making an EOT application.

Will my service as a reserve or part-time officer meet the employment qualification?

No. To qualify, employment must have been on a full-time, paid basis. For law enforcement officers it must also have been in a "sworn" position authorized to bear arms and make arrests. Reserve, part-time, auxiliary or seasonal employment does not qualify, even if you worked full time hours.

I don’t want my employer to know that I am trying to get certified in Florida and may be leaving. Can you verify employment without contacting my employer?

No. We understand that some employers may not react pleasantly in such situations, but we need a reliable verification of your qualifications. This requires the verification to be both explicit and from a proper authority.

How can I avoid these errors?

Research. Remember, if you don’t know or can’t find the correct dates, course titles, names and addresses to support your own claim – it is doubtful that we will be able to complete your evaluation in a timely manner and make a convincing case that you are eligible for the program.

I want to attend a particular Proficiency Demonstration class or take the state examination on a certain date. Is there anything I can do to speed up the evaluation process?

Yes. Submit a complete application along with supporting documents, and respond in a timely manner to any request we make for additional information. You should also consider calling the employer(s) and/or training institution(s) used as the basis for your qualifications and ask them to reply quickly to our verification requests. Problem areas that often slow down an evaluation:

An illegible, incomplete or ambiguous application form

Incomplete or inaccurate addresses

With large agencies or institutions, failure to provide the address of the specific office that handles verifications, causing inquiries to go astray in a large internal mail system.

How much time does the EOT qualification evaluation take?

You should allow about eight weeks for this step of the process. Some evaluations take less time, but we cannot predict how quickly employers or training institutions will respond to our verification requests.